A severe methamphetamine addiction led Trent Raymond Southwind to gangs. Gangs led him on a mission that ended in tragedy.

On Friday, a Saskatoon Queen’s Bench courtroom heard how Southwind stood in the background as two teens shot, attacked and ultimately killed 26-year-old Dylan Phillips on Oct. 14, 2016. The three gang members had never met Phillips but believed he was a marijuana dealer, based on what Southwind told the “higher ups” in the gang.

Armed with that information, the gang ordered Southwind and the teens to rob Phillips at his home in the 1400 block of Avenue G North, according to an agreed statement of facts.

Southwind did not plan the robbery, and thought they would simply take the drugs and leave, defence lawyer Lisa Watson told court. When he heard a gunshot, Southwind panicked and ran away; he then returned to help a 15-year-old boy hit Phillips with a fence board before fleeing in a stolen car.

DNA evidence found on clothing from the car, a gun and a pair of glasses left at the scene led to Southwind’s arrest. The now 26-year-old was originally charged with first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault against Phillip’s parents, who were home at the time, and one count of committing an offence for the benefit of a criminal organization.

Southwind pleaded guilty to manslaughter as part of a plea deal. His other charges were stayed.

The Crown and defence jointly proposed an eight-year sentence, which Justice Mona Dovell imposed. The mandatory minimum sentence for manslaughter involving a firearm is four years.

Crown prosecutor Christy Pannell asked Dovell to consider the gratuitous violence — which continued even after Phillips was shot in the chest — and that the robbery involved a gun and was done on behalf of a gang, as aggravating factors in reaching the eight-year sentence.

Court heard Phillips’s parents were beaten with the gun and a fence board when they tried to save their son.

“To watch my son die, with nothing I could do, has broken my soul and the pain is incomprehensible,” Phillips’s mother, Jan, wrote in a victim impact statement read by her daughter.

Dale Phillips described having to constantly re-live the darkest moment of his life. He said he seeks comfort in the memories of his son.

“Dylan was one of the most compassionate and genuine, caring people you could ever meet, but if needed, could be your strongest and most loyal warrior and protector,” Dale wrote in his statement. He said his son loved helping animals and those less fortunate than himself.

Phillips’s family members expressed compassion for the youth, but they had no sympathy for Southwind.

“I can see zero excuses or justifications for your actions,” sister Kendra Phillips said in court.

“While you may have had struggles growing up, quite frankly, I don’t care. Many people have had undesirable childhoods and move on to become useful members of society.”

Watson said Southwind befriended gang members during previous jail sentences and joined the Terror Squad because it was easy access to drugs. He knew gang life would involve violence, but never imagined contributing to someone’s death, court heard.

“He is mad at himself for joining the gang, and mad at the gang for the lifestyle it brought him,” Watson said, adding this is her client’s first violent offence.

Southwind is no longer associated with the Terror Squad and has been removed from the jail’s gang unit, according to Watson. She said he wants to address his addictions while in prison, and is truly sorry for what happened to Phillips.

Southwind’s plea came on the same day as his co-accused, 19-year-old Shaylin Sutherland-Kayseas, re-elected to be tried by a judge instead of a jury on charges including first-degree murder. Her trial is scheduled for September 2018.

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